Biographical essay on Salumarada Thimmakka - a great environmentalist

This articles is a brief biography of Salumarada Thimmakka, who is a great exponent of environment. She has planted 284 of trees at a stretch of 4 km on the Bangalore- Nelamangala National highway. She has been honored with the National citizens award of India by the Government of India.

Salumarada Thimmakka is a house hold name in Karnataka. She is one of the great environmentalist of India. She has earned her pet name "Salumara" because of her love towards trees. "Salumara" in kannada means row of trees.

She has planted 284 banyan trees on the Bangalore – Nelamangala National highway stretching almost four kilo meters. Government has recognised her efforts and honored her with "National citizens award of India" Her efforts on protection of environment is not only recognised in India but also abroad. An environmental organisation of United states of America has named a education centre in her name. The education centre is called as Thimmakka's resources for Environmental education.

Thimmakka is basically from a humble, poverty ridden, agricuturist family from hulikal village of magadi taluk, Bangalore rural district of Karnataka. She is one of the unfortunate citizens of India who has not received any formal education. She had worked as daily wager in a nearby query. One of the reason for her to adopt trees as her children is , she do not have children. She says all the trees are her children and loves them like anything. From the meagre earnings she started planting banyan trees. She used carry water from long distance daily and pour them to all the trees.

Salumarada Thimmakka has become aged and now the maintenance of these trees has been taken over by the Karnataka Government. The forest department of Karnataka has also presented Salumarada Thimmakka with a Rs1 lakh reward foe her relentless service to the cause of environment.

The achivement of Salumarada Thimmakka has not only been recognised by the Government but also other Non Governmental organisations. She has been honored with "Nadoja Award" by Hampi University in the year 2010, Vishalakshi award by Art of living organisation, Certificate of appreciation from the Indian Institute of wood science and technology , Bangalore.

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